The Niagara Region has taken the vinyl resurgence in stride, offering several record stores with new and used products.
While Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877 catapulted him to international fame, by the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the record player had fallen out of popularity. Replaced by the CD and then eventually digital downloads and streaming services, it appeared the end of vinyl was near. That was until the record made its resurgence in the late 2000s during the era of the flannel-wearing, beanie-toting hipster.
Following this renaissance of the record industry, a multitude of record stores came back to life in the Niagara Region.
Niagara Records:
Established in October of 2007, Niagara Records is a used record store in downtown St. Catharines that claims to have the “largest and best selection of second-hand records and CDs in the Niagara area.”
Located at 377 St. Paul Street, Niagara Records has hours of operation typically ranging between 11 a.m and 7 p.m, all week long.
The business has a vast collection of records. As their Facebook page states, they have over 2,000 records and 700 CDs in their collection. Upon visiting the establishment, this claim is not hard to believe. Despite being a relatively small space, the entire store is covered wall to wall with a variety of vintage records, ranging from Glenn Miller, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Led Zeppelin. There is very likely to be something for everyone.
Mindbomb Records:
Located in downtown St. Catharines, Mindbomb Records is an independent store that claims to be Niagara’s best non-corporate vinyl store for new release and reissued vinyl.
Located at 27 James Street, Mindbomb Records is open from 11 a.m to 6 p.m every day of the week and is known for its collection of both popular and niche sounds. Any group of friends could walk through the door, and each person could walk out with something they enjoy.
Mindbomb Records’ website allows local customers to browse the store’s catalogue before their visit, providing out-of-town customers the opportunity to purchase and ship a particular vinyl to their home.
Our Favourite Shop Records:
Located in downtown Thorold, Our Favourite Shop Records is a used record store that buys and sells used vinyl LPs.
Found at 53 Front Street South, Our Favourite Shop Records is open from 10 a.m to 4 p.m Tuesday to Friday and 11 a.m to 4 p.m on Saturday. While Niagara Records provides older sounds and styles, Our Favourite Shop Records carries vinyl from a multitude of periods. They are frequently active on Facebook and Instagram, showcasing their content and providing daily features to spark customer interest.
Sunrise Records:
Rocking in Canada since 1977, Sunrise Records is one of the few Canadian-owned, independently operated record stores left in Canada.
Located near the food court in the Pen Centre, Sunrise Records is open all week long. Their hours range from 10 a.m to 9 p.m during the week to 11 a.m to 5 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. While they sell more than just vinyl records, Sunrise plays home to a wide variety of popular music, especially the newest, hottest hits.
With a vast online catalogue, Sunrise Records is a convenient and accessible location for Brock students looking to pick up a new vinyl for their collection.
With vinyl’s resurgence making it one of the most popular audio mediums again, there is no doubt that the demand for records has grown substantially since the early 2000s. Outselling CDs for the first time in three decades, the record selling industry in Niagara can only be expected to grow.